Mounting bracket for an electrical device

Abstract

A mounting bracket is provided for mounting to an opening in a wall. The mounting bracket is for an electrical box or electrical device such as a switch, plug or fire alarm for mounting the electrical box or device to a wall without the need for an additional mounting structure. The mounting bracket includes a central opening for receiving the electrical device. At least two legs are integrally formed with a face plate of the bracket and bent perpendicular to the face plate to extend into an opening formed in the wall. A pivotal arm is mounted in each leg and coupled to a screw for limited pivotal movement to pivot the arms between a first retracted position and a second extended position to attach the mounting plate to the wall. The screw is rotated to draw the arm toward the face plate to contact the inner surface of the wall and draw the face plate into contact with the outer surface of the wall.

1. A mounting bracket for mounting to a wall or ceiling, said mounting bracket comprising:
 a one-piece support member having a face plate with a first planar surface for contacting an outer surface of a wall, the face plate having a central opening defining an inner edge of said face plate; 
 at least two legs extending substantially perpendicular away from said face plate and being positioned on opposite sides of said central opening, said legs being integrally formed with said inner edge of said face plate; 
 a pivotally mounted arm coupled to each of said legs, each said arm being movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position for engaging an inner surface of the wall and clamping the wall or ceiling between said face plate and said arm. 
 
   
   
     2. The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate is adapted for supporting an electrical device. 
   
   
     3. The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said face plate is adapted for supporting an electrical box. 
   
   
     4. The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said support member further comprises
 a mounting flange extending inwardly into said central opening and having a plurality of screw mounting holes for coupling an electrical box to said mounting flange. 
 
   
   
     5. The mounting bracket of  claim 4 , wherein said mounting flange is recessed with respect to an outer face of said face plate. 
   
   
     6. The mounting bracket of  claim 1 , wherein each of said legs and have a longitudinal channel, said arm being slidably received in said channel. 
   
   
     7. The mounting bracket of  claim 6 , wherein each of said arms have a base with an aperture therein, and said mounting bracket further comprising a screw extending along each said leg and received in said aperture of said base of said arm for moving said arm in a longitudinal direction to said leg and for pivoting said arms between said first position and said second position. 
   
   
     8. The mounting bracket of  claim 7 , wherein each said arm has a substantially L-shaped cross-section with a first flange lying in a plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction of said respective leg and a second flange extending in a plane substantially parallel to said face plate. 
   
   
     9. The mounting bracket of  claim 8 , wherein said first flange of said arms is offset with respect to said base, and said channel of said respective leg has an open side facing outwardly with respect to said central opening, said open side cooperating with said arm to limit rotation of said arm with respect to said leg. 
   
   
     10. The mounting bracket of  claim 7 , wherein said face plate has a guide hole aligned with each of said legs for receiving said screw. 
   
   
     11. The mounting bracket of  claim 10 , wherein each said leg comprises a first flange extending perpendicular from said face plate, said longitudinal channel being coupled to said first flange, and a second flange extending from said first flange substantially parallel to said face plate and having a guide hole for receiving a respective screw. 
   
   
     12. A mounting bracket for mounting in an opening in a wall, said mounting bracket comprising:
 a one-piece unitary support member having a face plate with a planar surface for contacting an outer surface of the wall, a side wall extending from said face plate for extending into the opening in the wall, and at least two legs extending in a direction away from said face plate, each of said legs having a longitudinal channel; and 
 a pivotally mounted arm having a base received in said longitudinal channel of each of said legs, each said arm being movable axially along said respective channel and being rotatable from a first position to a second position to clamp the wall between the face plate and each arm. 
 
   
   
     13. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , further comprising a mounting flange extending parallel to said face plate and being coupled to said side wall and having a plurality of apertures for receiving mounting screws for coupling an electrical box to said mounting flange. 
   
   
     14. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , further comprising a screw aligned with said channel of each of said legs, said base of said arm having an aperture receiving said screw and wherein rotation of said screw rotates said arm between said first and second positions and moves said arm longitudinally with respect to said channel. 
   
   
     15. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein each of said arms includes a first flange extending substantially parallel to said channel of said legs and being offset with respect to said base, and a second flange extending substantially parallel to said face plate. 
   
   
     16. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein each of said legs extend substantially perpendicular to said face plate. 
   
   
     17. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said face plate has an aperture aligned with each of said legs for receiving said screw. 
   
   
     18. The mounting bracket of  claim 17 , wherein each of said legs further comprise a tab extending parallel to and spaced from said face plate, said tab having a guide hole for receiving said screw and being aligned with said aperture in said face plate and said channel. 
   
   
     19. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said face plate includes a central opening, and where said side wall extends substantially perpendicular to said face plate from an inner edge of said central opening. 
   
   
     20. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said face plate includes a central opening and wherein said legs are formed from material removed from said face plate to form said central opening. 
   
   
     21. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said face plate is adapted for supporting an electrical box. 
   
   
     22. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said face plate is adapted for supporting an electrical device. 
   
   
     23. The mounting bracket of  claim 12 , wherein said legs include a bottom wall and two parallel side walls connected to said bottom wall by fold lines to define said longitudinal channel. 
   
   
     24. A mounting bracket for mounting within an opening in a wall, said mounting bracket comprising:
 a one-piece unitary support member formed from a sheet material and having a face plate with a central opening, a mounting flange coupled to said face plate and extending into said central opening, a pair of legs extending from and perpendicular to said face plate, each of said legs having an outwardly facing longitudinal channel; 
 a pivoting mounting arm coupled to each of said legs, each arm having a base received in a respective channel and being pivotable from a first retracted position to a second extended position extending outwardly from said central opening and substantially parallel to said face plate, said base of said mounting arm having an aperture extending parallel to said longitudinal channel, and 
 a threaded screw coupled to said base for pivoting said arm and moving said arm along said channel. 
 
   
   
     25. A mounting bracket of  claim 24 , wherein said face plate has an aperture aligned with each said leg for receiving said screw. 
   
   
     26. A mounting bracket of  claim 25 , wherein said support member further comprises a tab parallel to and spaced from said face plate and having a guide hole aligned with each said aperture of said face plate and with each said channel of said legs for receiving said screw. 
   
   
     27. A mounting bracket of  claim 26 , wherein each of said legs include a flange, said flange being coupled to an inner edge of said central opening, and wherein said tab is integrally formed with said flange. 
   
   
     28. A mounting bracket of  claim 27 , wherein said tab is cut from said flange and folded along a fold line to be substantially perpendicular to said flange.